“Sync is paused” usually means Chrome needs you to sign in to your Google Account again. Google says this happens when you sign out of a Google service such as Gmail: Chrome pauses sync and asks you to verify it’s you. To turn sync back on:
- Open Chrome on your computer.
- At the top right, select Verify it’s you > Sign in again.
- Sign in to your Google Account.
Those steps are from Google’s guide to fixing sync issues in Chrome.
Don’t delete your passwords or browsing data to fix sync. Some guides tell you to clear “Passwords and other sign-in data” with All time selected. Google’s browsing data help warns that if you delete data while you’re signed in, Chrome removes it from your other devices and your Google Account too.
Sync pauses every time you close Chrome
If sync turns off every time you close Chrome, Google says you can change this setting:
- Select the three-dot More menu > Settings.
- Select Privacy and security > Site settings > Additional content settings.
- Select On-device site data.
- Turn on Allow sites to save data on your device.
Check what Chrome is saving to your account
If sync is on but something isn’t showing up on your other devices, check which types of info are being saved:
- Select More > Settings > You and Google.
- Select your account name.
- Choose what to save in your Google Account. To see open tabs and history on other devices, turn on History and tabs.
Make sure you’re signed in with the same Google Account on every device. These steps come from Google’s guide to getting your bookmarks, passwords and more on all your devices.
If you use a sync passphrase
A passphrase lets Google store your Chrome data without being able to read it. If you set one, you need to enter it on every device where you’re signed in. If syncing with a passphrase gives you trouble, Google says you may need to update Chrome:
Select More > Help > About Google Chrome. If you see Relaunch, select it. If there is no Relaunch button, you have the latest version (from Google’s update guide).
If you forgot your passphrase, Google’s steps to change or remove it start with deleting the Chrome data stored in your Google Account. Google says this deletes your passwords and other info from your account and your device, and signs you out on all devices. Payment methods and addresses from Google Wallet aren’t affected. Before you do this, export your passwords so you can import them again afterwards. Then:
- Go to Chrome data in your account dashboard, at chrome.google.com/data.
- At the bottom, select Delete data > Delete.
- Sign in to Chrome again. You can set a new passphrase in Settings > You and Google > your account name > Encryption options, or carry on without one.
If your account shows an error
Google’s sign-in help says that if you signed out of a Google service like Gmail, or your Google Account is in an error state, you can select your Profile picture at the top right and choose Remove account from Chrome, then sign in again. When you sign out of Chrome, your info is kept in your Google Account and removed from the device. It comes back when you sign in.
If you can’t sign in at all, see fixing Chrome sign-in problems. For other sync problems, see fixing Chrome sync.